By Swansea RFC | 12/07/2018

Swansea RFC was saddened to hear of the passing of long time club supporter and volunteer Ann Voisey on Monday aged 87.

In 2015 Ann won the WRU “Unsung Hero Award” for her dedication to and contribution over many years to Swansea RFC. A life time supporter of the club, in 2016 Ann was made a Life Patron in recognition of her unstinting work for the club.

Since the age of 12 Ann had been a fervent supporter of the ‘All Whites’. She used to come down to St Helen’s with her father just after the war and watch Swansea play. Since then she had been a stalwart supporter, attending home and away games and even travelling to the Far East to watch Swansea on tour in Honk Kong in the ‘seventies.

A former French teacher at Penyrheol School in Gorseinon, at St Helen’s Ann was a member of the Patron Supporters’ committee for many years and worked tirelessly for the club in many ways from organising coaches to manning the turnstiles.

Chairman of the Patron Supporters’ Committee Gerry Lindenburn said: “It goes without saying that Ann’s passing will leave a huge void in the resources of the Swansea and District Rugby Supporter’s Club. Ann must have been a member of the Committee for over 50 years and has been assistant-secretary and secretary for many of those years. No job was too small for her and to have “manned” the turnstile at the Mumbles end up to the age of 83/84 speaks volumes to her commitment to the club. She will be sadly missed.”

Ann was a very modest person and when she was selected for a WRU “Unsung Hero Award” in 2015 she said:"I don't like fame — the award is nice for everybody. Swansea RFC has always been a very important part of my life and has been a part of my family for generations. I have done a few things in my time; on occasions when they were desperate I would serve behind the bar. It was almost like my second home.”

"It was surprised when I won the award. I do it because I enjoy it. We are a small committee here in Swansea who all work hard to ensure the success of the club. I would like to thank the whole club for this nomination and I hope to keep giving all that I can to help."

Club Secretary Alun Donovan, who had nominated Ann for the “Unsung Heroes Award” commented: "When the supporters' clubs of the Welsh teams decided that it would be a good idea to have an association of supporters' clubs to share ideas and foster good relationships, Ann became secretary. It's great to know that her lifelong and continuing contribution to rugby in Swansea has finally been recognized."

The Whites' managing Director Keith Colclough said: "The passing of Ann is an extremely sad day for Swansea RFC, rugby in general and her army of friends and admirers at the club. If you look in the dictionary for the word 'Stalwart', it is described as staunch, loyal, faithful, committed, devoted, dedicated, dependable, reliable. These and other qualities al described Ann Voisey to those who knew her."

We will certainly Miss Ann at St Helen’s and the thoughts and condolences are with her family at this difficult time.